Corvo’s Windmills: the Last Three of an Original Six

Before electricity reached Corvo, it was the wind that turned the island’s corn into flour. Near Ponta Negra, three stone windmills still stand to tell that story.

Six windmills, three survivors

Linked to the paths through the so-called “lower lands,” the island once had six known windmills, built between the late 19th and early 20th century. Only three have survived to this day, located along Caminho dos Moinhos, near Ponta Negra.

A model unique in the Azores

Corvo’s windmills are fixed stone “tower mills,” in a variant known as “southern mainland style,” for their resemblance to examples from southern mainland Portugal — a design distinct from the windmills found on other Azorean islands. Each mill’s body is cone-shaped, built in stone masonry; two are rendered and whitewashed, while the third keeps its original rough stone finish.

A rotating wooden cap

Atop each mill, a rotating conical cap, made of wood, allowed the mast and triangular sails to be turned to face the wind — a system considered rare of its kind across the entire archipelago.

Protected heritage since 1997

The set of three windmills is protected under Resolution No. 69/97 of the Regional Government of the Azores and is part of Corvo Island’s Inventory of Historical and Religious Heritage.

A festival dedicated to the windmills

During the week of 15 August, the island celebrates the Windmill Festival, alongside the Feast of Nossa Senhora dos Milagres — one of the few occasions when the inside of these centuries-old structures takes on special festive significance.

Planning your visit

• Location: Caminho dos Moinhos, near Ponta Negra.
• Access: free, with the mill’s interior viewable at any time of day.
• View: the area offers a privileged view over Flores Island, across the channel.

Best time to visit

July, with the free guided tour offered by the town council, is a good time to learn how the mills work inside.

Nearby highlights

Praia da Areia, the island’s only beach, is a short distance from the windmills.

After the windmills, round off your route around Corvo with a visit to the town, to see how this small community continues to preserve its unique heritage.

Featured image — Photo: Luissilveira / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0